Official CustoMac Mini 2012 Guide and Notes (in progress)

[mswilmot]

I thought this graphics issue had been discussed multiple times. But maybe yours is slightly different.

What resolution are you driving the display at? If it's something other than 1920x1080 (1080p) then it may be that the initial graphics mode set up by the bootloader needs to be tweaked. Sleeping/waking the machine, dis/re-connecting the display, or any other way of triggering OS X's "detect displays" function seems to fix it. Changing the resolution settings in Chameleon might just fix your problem. I had this issue with a 1280x800 projector.

BTW, if you have another machine you can connect in with Screen Sharing, then you can trigger the display detection by going to System Preferences -> Displays, then Alt/Opt-clicking the button at the bottom of that window.

Of course, if your display is actually being driven at 1920x1080 then you might have a different problem...

During boot, the display detects as 1080i but when I get to the ML desktop it reverts to 720p with the ghosting. My org.chameleon.Boot.plist has the lines:
<key>Graphics Mode</key>
<string>"1920x1080x32"</string>
Which was added by MultiBeast.

Thankfully, getting it working properly after boot isn't a major issue as I can just sleep via the power button and then wake.

 

[mswilmot]

Changing the resolution settings in Chameleon might just fix your problem. I had this issue with a 1280x800 projector.

Sorry, missed that bit of your post. Yes, I went and manually changed the chameleon file to 720p which has meant that the display didn't change modes between the chimera/apple logo screens and booting the desktop. Stayed on 720p the whole way with the desktop displaying correctly.

I wonder if it's possible for MultiBeast to have different options for the Graphics Mode other than just 1080p (or am I the only one who finds everything just a bit small at that resolution?)

 

[mimova]

Exactly the same problem for me as you know. But I have no BR drive attached. I notice that this only happens on an apple menu selected sleep. But the regular timed sleep doesn't seem to be a full sleep if that makes sense, the power light never goes off.

A new episode in my search for understanding the elusive sleep problem: I did a clean install with DSDT, FakeSMC motherboard plugins and Linux2Mac drivers, using 10.8.2. Manual and auto sleep work perfectly for several days, and I did a few reboots and shutdowns. So I shut down the computer, and connected my LG blu-ray writer. Sleep works, wake up requires about 5 minutes between when the computer powers on and the display awakes. So I shut down the computer again, disconnect the blu-ray drive, and start the computer again. It continues to require a 4-5 minutes delay for fully waking up. I'm pretty sure that if I format and re-install the OS without re-connecting by blu-ray drive, it will sleep and wake correctly again. It's like if connecting the blu-ray drive changes something and that change remains event after the blu-ray drive is disconnected. This makes no sense to me at all

Edit: just re-formatted the system partition and re-installed with the same settings; no wake up issue. What system setting could be affected by connecting a blu-ray drive that remains after booting the system with the BR drive disconnected??

 

[savestheday]

Hey guys,
Does everyone's USB 3.0 ports work on boot? I got a Startech USB 3.0 NIC bc the Realtek one sucks

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833114074

This WORKS but not on boot. I have to unplug it and plug it back in. Anyone else have this issue with USB 3.0 devices?

 

[wildwillow]

Hi Guys,
Very happy with this build with the H77n-Wifi and i3-3225. Everything works well. I disconnected the wifi as I use ethernet and it wasn't letting it shut down properly.

A question for you guys, Is any of you using the digital audio out on the motherboard, I have a sound bar that I would like to connect it to, yet I didn't realise thatthere are different ports for this until now.

I have included a link to what I think I need for the set up but am really unsure, Could you please advise me if this is wrong. LINDY 2m SPDIF Digital Optical Cable - TosLink to Mini Optical

Thanks in advance.
EDIT: or maybe this with the optical cable that I have TOS Optical (Toslink) Plug to Mini 3.5mm Optical Jack Plug Adapter

EDIT 2: Problem solved. I have the correct cable now. Great sound.XO 2m Ultra High Resolution Professional Digital Optical TOSlink Cable - 24k Gold Casing - Compatible with PS3,Sky HD, HDtvs, Blu-rays, AV Amps **Superior-grade optical fiber to deliver better clarity and transfer digital signal**

 

[glassman2004]

Hi guys,
New member here. Building a CustoMac Mini using the standard kit:
GA-H77N-WIFI mobo
IVYBRIDGE core i3-3225 + Gelid Slim Silence iPlus cpu fan (lower and quieter than Intel)
8Gb Corsair Vengeance CML8GX3M2A1600C9 RAM
Sandisk Extreme SATA3 6Gb/s SSD - 128Gb (a first for me)
WD10EZRX HDD
LG GH24NS90 DVD
Thermaltake Element Q mini-ITX case c.w. 220W PS
TP-Link WiFi card TL-WDN4800

So, built the hardware (but not all, experience has shown me the best way to build is piecemeal, that way it's easier to fault find. System currently comprises the SSD, HDD, 4Gb RAM and no PCIe card)
After a panic where I could not see the SSD, probably a loose lead, swapped a lead and voila, it all works.
Following tonymac's comprehensive guide, set BIOS settings.
Booted from Ivybridge DVD 1.0.0 and:
"Unable to find driver for this platform..." message!
Disabled SSD and tried again, to no avail.
Am I doing something stupid here??
Cheers

 

[glassman2004]

Oops!
When installing remember to RTFM!
Should have ejected iBoot and inserted SL install disk....
Will get back later if any probs.

 

[madmax1965]

Hi, I'm a noob... I just assembled my first build:
GA-z77n wifi
i7-3770
16gb corsair RAM
seagate barracuda 1tb

I booted from Unibeast USB (could only boot with -x argument...), installed Mountain Lion on seagate 1tb, rebooted from Unibeast USB (still with -x argument), ran Multibeast without DSDT and with the suggested settings for audio, network and boot options, I didn't check anything under bootloader (at first), finished installing drivers and rebooted....
If I just let the system boot it would give me a series of boot errors, if I booted from Unibeast USb choosing the Mountain Lion option (without the -x argument) it would just go to the grey apple logo screen with an endless spinning wheel....
What can I do to have the system just boot normally from my Mountain lion disk??
Thank you very much in advance...
Madmax

 

[miramar]

madmax, check that you have VT-d disabled in BIOS.

 

[madmax1965]

Thanks Miramar, I'll try that tomorrow... I live in Italy and I just got out from the office where I have the system....
What if I need to install Parallels afterwards? I'll have to do without it?
Max